Principal Competitive Thrusts with Strategic Information Systems
Information is strategic if its objective is to improve the competitive position of the organization. Such system helps the firm attract customers profitably and for an extended period of time. Any type of system supporting operations, management, or knowledge work of the organization may be deployed as strategic system.
Competitive Strategies
Michael Porter formulated the Four Generic Business Strategies to gain competitive advantage.

* Differentiation * Selects one or more criteria used by buyers in a market and then places the business uniquely to meet those criteria * Cost Leadership * Focuses on becoming the lowest cost producer in the industry * Differentiation Focus * Allows the business to aim differentiation within a small number of target market segments * Cost focus * Allows the business to seek a lower-cost advantage within a small number of market segments
Competitive Forces Competitive strategies have been formulated because of the competitive forces in an industry. Industry is a group of firms that market products which are closely substitutes for each other like the car industry.
Switching costs * These are the costs of switching to your competitor for product or service you provide

Competitive Tactics * Internal growth – this tactic makes it possible to realize economic of scale. * Innovation – this tactic makes internal innovation possible by generating new knowledge * Merger or Acquisition – this includes outward-directed tactics involving mergers or acquisitions of other companies to compete more keenly in the emerging environment * Strategic Alliances With Other Companies – long term partnership with another company which is vital to competing in the global market.

Strategic Cube * The combination of competitive strategies,